Kyoto Gion Tea ceremony and Wabi-sabi Walking Tour

Experience tea ceremony deeply after visiting several historical spots related with Wabi-sabi

Highlights

  • Visit some historical spots with a local guide such as the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, traditional tea utensil shop, and local peaceful temple.

  • Learn about Japanese tea culture and Wabi-sabi with a local guide

  • Experience authentic Tea ceremony and enjoy drinking matcha with a small snack

  • Duration

    3.5 hours

  • Offered in

    English

What is included

  • Tea Ceremony Experience - Match and small seasonal snack served

  • Entrance fee - Entrance fee of 2 temples included

  • 3.5 hours with a local guide - An english-speaking guide

  • Photos during a tour - You'll get photos taken during the tour by your guide after the tour via email.

ITINERARY

Meeting / Pickup Point

In front of the Statue of Izumo-no-Okuni, right outside Exit 5 of Gion Shijo Station (Keihan Line)

Start time

13:30:00

End point

Tea ceremony Experience

What To Expect

Discover the beauty of Japanese tea culture and Wabi-sabi on this immersive Kyoto Gion tea ceremony tour. Explore historic locations with a knowledgeable local guide, including one of Kyoto's oldest Zen temples, a traditional Japanese tea utensil shop, and a peaceful local temple, while learning about the philosophy of Wabi-sabi, which celebrates simplicity, imperfection, and the beauty of everyday life. Continue your cultural journey with an authentic Japanese tea ceremony, where you'll learn about traditional tea customs and enjoy freshly prepared matcha green tea accompanied by a small Japanese snack. Combining Gion sightseeing, Zen culture, Wabi-sabi, and a traditional tea ceremony, this Kyoto experience offers a meaningful way to discover the city's timeless traditions beyond the usual tourist attractions.

Feel the wabi-sabi, Japanese aesthetic sense, through walking around Gion historical area and experiencing the tea ceremony!

After meeting at Gion-Shijo Station, we will stroll through the historical district of Gion, visiting a famous matcha shop and the oldest Zen temple in Kyoto, where a local guide will explain the history of the tea ceremony.

Feeling Wabi-sabi through many Japanese arts such as tea bowl, painting, garden, and so on with guide's explanation.

Admire wabi sabi tea bowls at a traditional pottery shop, view Japanese paintings and karesansui (dry landscape zen garden) at a quiet temple, and learn and feel about wabi sabi from your guide and many Japanese art works!

Enjoy tea ceremony with tea master's instruction!

Based on the knowledge of Wabi-Sabi learned through the city walk, you will experience tea ceremony under a tea master at last. Choose a tea bowl according to season and taste, enjoy Japanese sweets, and immerse yourself in the deep culture of matcha green tea and the tea ceremony.























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    • The tour is not available for children under 6 years old.

    • Out of respect for our other guests and to ensure the best tour for everyone, we must start the tour on time. You will not be able to join the tour, get a refund or reschedule if you are late for the tour and miss the group.

    • The itinerary for this tour includes some locations that are not accessible by a wheelchair or stroller.

    • You do not need to pay for the guide's food and drinks.

    • Please note that there might be other participants

    • The tour might be cancelled in case of unsuitable weather for safety reasons.

    • Japan's climate has become more extreme, with summer highs of 40°C (110°F) and winter lows of -5°C (20°F). Please prepare accordingly for the tour.

    • This tour is available every day except on 31 December 2026 and 1 January 2027.

    • Magical Trip